Liquor Liability

Dram Shop and Social Host

I was injured as the result of an accident or crime involving
someone who was overserved alcohol. What are my rights?

There is no cut-and-dried answer to this question. Consulting a
Massachusetts attorney and discussing your case with the attorney is the
only way to get a legal opinion about your potential claim.

Does Massachusetts law prohibit serving alcohol to drunk or
intoxicated people?

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 138 § 69 prohibits commercial
vendors of alcohol from serving any intoxicated person. However this law
does not make a drinking establishments automatically liable for any
accidents that result from their overserving a patron.

In addition, Massachusetts courts have recognized that party hosts and
other businesses may sometimes be liable for injuries that result from
alcohol that is served at their parties or functions. This sort of
liability is known as “social host” liability.

If you have any reason to believe that you were hurt as the result of
the actions of a drunk or intoxicated person, you need to contact an
attorney to discuss your case in detail.

What if I injured myself as a result of being overserved
alcohol?

You may have a legal claim. Consulting an attorney and discussing your
case with the attorney is the only way to find out.